What is a Wind Turbine and How Does it Work? – Everything You Need to Know

As populations are growing at a very fast pace, so does the need for energy. You have lots of electronic stuff inside your home. The way it operates is by consuming energy.

However, the thing is, the energies that are getting consumed in the process are non-renewable. As a result, you won’t be able to use it forever. People are diverting towards an affordable option and a good energy source that can achieve naturally to overcome this problem.

Thanks to the wind turbine, you can easily have your problem solved. The demand for it is growing to an unimaginable extent, and people worldwide are giving positive reviews since it is environmentally friendly and cost-effective.

From the following article, you will find all about the wind turbine and the way it works. Without wasting any more time, let’s dive right into it.

What is a Wind Turbine?

A wind turbine is a kind of device that converts the wind’s kinetic energy into electrical energy. The blades of the turbine turn within 13 to 20 revolutions per minute, and the speed of the rotation basically depends on the device and the way it is constructed.

These blades are designed in a way that they can be aerodynamic in the most efficient way. Due to this, it stores a huge amount of energy from the wind and converts it to rotational energy that, in turn, produces electrical energy.

It lasts around 2 decades or so. Luckily, people’s modern technology and creative minds have successfully made the newer versions more durable than usual.

How Does it Work?

The wind or moving air consisting of kinetic energy hits the rotor blades of the turbine. It then starts spinning around and turns the central driveshaft that holds them in a fixed place.

Inside the nacelle (the main body of the turbine that sits on the top portion of the tower and behind the blades), there is a gearbox present. It converts the drive shafts’ low-speed rotation to high-speed immediately so that the generator can function efficiently.

The generator (located at the back portion of the gearbox) converts the kinetic energy (from the driveshaft) to electrical energy.

There are also devices like anemometers and wind vines present behind the nacelle. It plays a key role in measuring and providing the speed and direction of the wind automatically.

With the help of these measurements, you will get the opportunity to adjust the turbine in a way that it faces straight to the incoming wind and captures as much energy as possible.

You can do this by rotating the rotors and nacelle (turbine’s top portion) using a yaw motor (always stays fixed between the tower and nacelle). If the wind is too much, can apply brakes to prevent the rotors from turning.

Likewise, as the generator produces electricity, a cable makes sure all the electricity flows through the turbine towers’ internal parts.

After that, a step-up transformer takes the electricity and converts it to a voltage that is 50 times higher than its usual value. It is done so that the voltage can be transmitted properly to the power grid or buildings.

Its Power Output

A home wind turbine normally has a power output between 100W and 2000W. The actual output mainly depends on the speed of the wind and the way the generator performs.

The expensive models will produce 2000W, and if you add around 3 or more turbines, it will be able to power a small-sized house completely.

Performance in Different Weather Conditions

Yes, its performance is marvelous, and you will be surprised to know that it can withstand storms, gales, etc. It can tolerate wind speed between 90 and 100 mph, and when the limit crosses, it starts to malfunction and can break down.

At the same time, to prevent any damage from occurring, the turbines are coated with materials that make them immune to corrosion. It is highly recommended that areas that constantly experience tornadoes, hurricanes, or other natural disasters should avoid installing wind turbines at all costs. They can use a solar array as an excellent alternative to generate power.

How the Turbines Can be Controlled?

These can be controlled by using computers that monitor the whole thing from speed to the wind direction. Devices that are installed on the top part of the turbine make it all easy and possible for you.

How do Wind Turbines Work When it is not Windy?

It is true that when there is not enough wind in your area, the wind turbine will produce a small amount of power. It happens because the blades start to move slowly, which makes the turbine incapable of producing electricity.

On the other hand, the main power that comes in your home is from a powerful enough grid to supply in different places. This power plant uses thousands of turbines that work all together in a remarkable way. If one of them starts fluctuating due to the change in the wind, the others will back it up.

Advantages of Using Wind Turbines

Here are all the advantages that you will get if you use the turbine.

• You will have a huge decrease in your electricity bill. Some homeowners have claimed that their bill had decreased to more than 50%.
• For it to operate, it only needs wind which comes naturally. You don’t have to include any other external devices to get the job done.
• The installation process is not challenging. You can do it in any location of your preference. It won’t be a problem whether it is on your rooftop, garden, or other areas.
• If you are interested, you can add solar power motors onto the generator to generate power. In this way, you will get more power with the help of wind and solar energy, cheers!
• It is considered ‘greener’ for the environment because it doesn’t release any harmful gases like carbon monoxide into the atmosphere.
• Fortunately, you don’t have to use the water supply at all since the turbine is not dependent on it. So, you can save tons of water that normally gets wasted from other machines.
• You can research residential wind turbines on the internet, and lots of ideas and strategies will pop out. It will be a big help during the installation period.

 

Conclusion

Having a wind turbine is a strategic option because it will only benefit you from it. If you are planning to install it, take notes from this article and consult with a professional. You can also hire them to finish the work on your behalf. After all, it all depends on the way you feel comfortable.

Hope you are benefited from reading the whole thing. Have a good day!